Dual-Wall Ostomy Seal Preventing Adhesive Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing controlled discharge ostomy appliances with moldable adhesive wafers are incompatible with stoma seals due to adhesion issues, leading to trapped flatus and potential leakage or appliance separation, as the exposed adhesive surface interferes with the seal's operation and adhesion to the stoma.

Innovation Solution

A stoma seal unit comprising a first inner seal wall and a second outer seal wall, where the second wall acts as a shield to prevent adhesive engagement, allowing flatus to vent peripherally through a gas passage between the walls, and enabling the first seal wall to maintain seal pressure independently of adhesion to the body mounting wafer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a moldable adhesive wafer with exposed adhesive surface is used, then ease of use and custom adaptation to stoma size and shape is improved, but the seal becomes vulnerable to adhesion against the exposed adhesive surface, trapping flatus and causing potential leakage or appliance separation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of use and custom adaptationVSAvoidseal operation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A non-adhesive barrier layer is introduced between the exposed adhesive surface of the moldable wafer and the seal. This intermediary layer prevents direct adhesive contact with the seal, eliminating the adhesion problem while allowing the moldable wafer to maintain its ease of use and custom adaptation benefits. The barrier layer acts as a mediator that blocks the harmful adhesive-seal interaction without interfering with the intended adhesive-skin bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the seal is designed to obstruct discharge of liquid and solid body waste, then waste containment is improved, but flatus becomes trapped at the seal interface, creating pressure that may weaken the seal or adhesion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste containmentVSAvoidtrapped flatus pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A dedicated flatus vent channel is extracted and separated from the main seal structure. This vent channel provides a specific pathway for flatus to escape laterally around the seal periphery, independent of the waste-containing seal interface. By extracting the flatus venting function as a separate feature, the system maintains effective waste containment while providing a dedicated escape route for flatus, preventing pressure buildup that could compromise seal integrity or adhesion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3167851B1Controlled discharge ostomy appliance and seal unit
Publication Date: 2019.10.02 CONVATEC TECH INC
  • EP3167851B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3167851B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3167851B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A controlled discharge ostomy appliance (10) having a stoma seal (32) comprises a first (inner) seal wall (50) and a second (outer) seal wall (52). The first seal wall includes a stoma-contacting seal face (54) configured for contacting the stoma (12) in use through a stoma-contact aperture (56) of the second seal wal. The second seal wall covers a peripheral portion of the seal face. The first seal wall optionally forms part of a wall defining the chamber (40).